President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that ongoing reforms will deliver a more transparent, accountable and sustainable electricity sector as the federal government inaugurated the training for 5,000 youths in smart meter installation.

Mr Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, inaugurated the initiative under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) held at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Abuja.

The president said the programme would bridge the nation’s metering gap, strengthen the power sector and create skilled jobs.

He said the initiative demonstrates the administration’s commitment to building both critical infrastructure and human capital, adding that the programme would expand progressively to accommodate more young Nigerians.

“The transformation of Nigeria’s electricity sector will not occur overnight. It requires consistency, partnership, technical excellence, and unwavering commitment to reform,” he said.

Mr Tinubu said the federal government would continue expanding the initiative beyond the initial 5,000 beneficiaries.

“Beyond strengthening the power sector, the PMI programme creates meaningful employment.

“We are not stopping at 5,000; we will keep ramping up to 10,000, 15,000 and we might even get to 500,000. This programme creates meaningful employment and equips young people with future-ready technical skills,” he said.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to fair electricity billing and improved service delivery.

He said, “Every Nigerian deserves to pay only for the actual electricity consumed, while every service provider deserves to be paid for the electricity supplied.

“Better days lie ahead. We are steadily building an electricity sector that is more transparent, more accountable, more sustainable and more responsive to the needs of every citizen.”

Mr Tinubu said the first batch of trainees would become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering programme, ensuring millions of households and businesses receive professionally installed meters that meet the highest technical and safety standards.

Special Adviser to the President on Energy and Executive Secretary of the PMI, Olu Verheijen, said the government would deploy more than seven million smart meters under the largest metering programme in Nigeria’s history.

“We’re deploying more than seven million meters as the largest metering programme in our nation’s history.

“But seven million meters require thousands of skilled Nigerians. Capital can be raised and equipment procured, but no nation develops without capable people,” she said.

She said the overwhelming response to the programme reflected the enormous potential of Nigerian youths.

“Applications have now closed. We had 5,000 places, but we received almost 220,000 applications from young Nigerians across our country. That tells us something profound.

“Beneath the unemployment statistics lies a generation that is ready to work if given the opportunity,” she added.

Ms Verheijen said every successful participant would receive professional training from NAPTIN, industry certification by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and a pathway to employment with electricity distribution companies and meter providers.

Chairman of the PMI board and Kwara Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Edmund Nnaji, executive director of finance and administrator at the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), urged state governments to support the initiative.

He described it as a strategic platform for building a highly skilled workforce for the electricity sector.

NAPTIN Director-General, Ahmed Nagode, said the curriculum combines classroom instruction with intensive practical sessions approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to produce industry-ready professionals.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative complements the ministry’s One Youth, Two Skills programme by equipping young Nigerians with practical skills that promote employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

Partners supporting the PMI include NEMSA, NAPTIN, the World Bank and other stakeholders committed to accelerating Nigeria’s electricity sector reforms.

(NAN)